Finding Windows-Equivalent Applications in Linux

Finding Windows-Equivalent Applications in Linux

If you are going to use Red Hat Linux as a desktop computer system, you have to be able to write documents, work with graphics, and crunch numbers. You probably also have other favorite applications, like a music player, Web browser, and e-mail reader.

Note?

Using WINE technology, the people at Codeweavers, Inc. offer a CrossOver Office product that lets you install and run Microsoft Office in Linux. See the "Running Windows Applications with WINE" section later in this chapter.

To give you a snapshot of what desktop applications are available, Table 5-1 contains a list of popular Windows applications, equivalent Linux applications, and where you can find the Linux applications. Although many of these applications have not reached the level of sophistication of their Windows counterparts, they can be cost-effective alternatives.

Table 5-1: Windows-Equivalent Linux Applications

Windows Applications

Linux Applications

Where to Get Linux Applications

Cost

Microsoft Office (office productivity suite)

OpenOffice (openoffice.org)

Koffice

StarOffice

Included on Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

www.sun.com/staroffice

Free

Free

$75.95

Microsoft Word (word processor)

OpenOffice Writer

abiWord

kword

Included on Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

Free

Free

Free

Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet)

OpenOffice Calc

gnumeric

kspread

Included on Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

Free

Free

Free

Microsoft Powerpoint (presentation)

OpenOffice Impress

kpresenter

Included On Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

Free

Free

Microsoft Internet Explorer

(Web browser)

mozilla

epiphany

konqueror

opera

Included on Red Hat Linux CDs

Included on Red Hat Linux CDs

Included on Red Hat Linux CDs

www.opera.com

Free

Free

Free

Free download

Microsoft Outlook (e-mail reader)

evolution

kmail

Mozilla Mail

Included on Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

Included on Red Hat CDs

Free

Free

Free

Adobe Photoshop (image editor)

The Gimp (gimp)

Included on Red Hat CDs

Free

Quicken or Microsoft Money

gnucash

Included on Red Hat CDs

Free

AutoCAD (computer-aided design)

LinuxCad

www.linuxcad.com

$89

The following sections describe how to find and work with application programs that are created specifically for Linux.